Youth Justice Worker Returners Scheme

Role overview

This returners opportunity is for former youth justice workers who want to rejoin HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) after a break of less than 5 years. The scheme is designed to bring experienced staff back into youth custody roles in Feltham, Werrington, or Wetherby to help keep prisons safe and support colleagues on the frontline.

Successful returners may be placed directly into a live vacancy or, if no immediate opening is available, added to a merit list and considered ahead of external applicants when posts arise.

Locations

Feltham, London; Werrington, West Midlands; Wetherby, Yorkshire and the Humber.

Salary and hours

Starting pay depends on location, band, and weekly hours. The salary range is £36,150 to £45,446 per year, inclusive of a 20% unsocial hours allowance for 2026/27. Some prisons also receive a market supplement of £1,500, £2,000, £3,000, or £3,500 a year.

If you return full-time, the standard contract is 37 hours per week. Band 3 staff may later choose to move to 39 or 41 hours per week, while Band 4 remains at 37 hours per week. Shifts run across the full week and can include evenings, nights, weekends, and public holidays. Extra paid hours may be available.

Pay by location and band

• Werrington and Wetherby, Band 3: 37 hours £36,150; 39 hours £38,430; 41 hours £40,710.
• Feltham, Band 3: 37 hours £40,199; 39 hours £42,734; 41 hours £45,269.
• Werrington and Wetherby, Band 4: 37 hours £41,328.
• Feltham, Band 4: 37 hours £45,446.

What happens after you apply

You will be asked to name up to two YOIs where you would be willing to return. Once eligibility is confirmed, you may be matched to a vacancy and then invited to medical and fitness testing. Full pre-employment screening, including occupational health, must be completed before you can return.

If a suitable vacancy is not available right away at your chosen YOI, you may be held on a merit list for priority consideration later.

Training and progression

After successfully completing a 12-month probation period, you will be offered the chance to complete a Level 4 qualification focused on working with children and young people in custody. After that, there may be progression into a Band 4 Youth Justice Worker Specialist role. Ongoing development in specialist areas such as safeguarding and child protection will also be provided.

Working conditions

You should expect a physically active role with fixed shift start and finish times. Some sites are in rural areas with limited public transport, so having a driving licence and your own transport can help, although it is not mandatory. You must be able to arrive on time for every shift and should think carefully about travel arrangements before accepting an offer.

Eligibility

• You must be a former HMPPS youth justice worker who left within the last 5 years.
• You should have previously worked at Band 3 or Band 4.
• You must have completed foundation training and your full probation period before leaving.
• If you had another HMPPS role before becoming a youth justice worker, you must have completed probation in that role and then worked as a youth justice worker for more than 12 months before leaving.
• The scheme is also open to former youth justice workers currently employed in the Ministry of Justice outside HMPPS, or in other government departments.
• HMPPS may refuse reappointment where there has been prior poor attendance or performance.
• You must be at least 18 when employment starts.
• You must meet Civil Service nationality rules and have the right to work in the UK.
• A suitable result in the medical and fitness assessment is required.
• You must meet the required eyesight standard in both eyes, with or without corrective lenses.
• For safety reasons, hearing standards must be met without hearing aids.
• Tattoos are allowed, including visible ones, but they must not be offensive, discriminatory, violent, or intimidating; facial tattoos are usually not acceptable unless for cultural, religious, or medical reasons.

Additional information

You need to be back in post before your 5-year return date ends, so applications should be made at least 6 months before that deadline to allow time for vacancy allocation and pre-employment checks.

If you are not ready to return yet, you can join the Prison Service Alumni Network for updates until the time is right.

A DBS check is required.

The role may offer full-time hours by default, though part-time or flexible minimum-hours arrangements can be requested and will depend on local staffing needs. Any change to hours must be agreed with the YOI before a provisional offer is made.

The campaign is due to close on 1 October 2026, although this date may be extended.

Support documents are available for Band 3 and Band 4 job descriptions.

If you need assistance, you can call 0345 241 5358 Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm, or email MoJ-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com and quote job reference 19609.

Nationality requirements

This opportunity is open to UK nationals, Irish nationals, Commonwealth citizens with UK work rights, eligible EU/Swiss/Norwegian/Icelandic/Liechtenstein nationals and family members with valid EUSS applications, certain individuals with limited or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply under EUSS by 31 December 2020, and Turkish nationals and certain family members who have built the right to work in the Civil Service.

Sponsorship is not guaranteed. Skilled Worker visa sponsorship may be available only if you meet eligibility and immigration rules, but candidates needing sponsorship are unlikely to be sponsored due to current recruitment timelines and immigration requirements.

Civil Service information

The Civil Service Code applies to this role, and recruitment is based on fair and open competition under Civil Service Commission principles. Veterans who meet the minimum criteria may qualify for the guaranteed interview scheme. Eligible staff at risk of redundancy may also be considered under the Redeployment Interview Scheme. Applications must be truthful and based on your own experience; misuse of AI or plagiarism can lead to withdrawal of your application.